Work in progress

I've got very little to report this week, it's been a tough few weeks and I've done almost nothing.  Except watch both series of Orange is the New Black on Netflix (fantastic, you have to watch it) and the first two series of Breaking Bad, which I'm now addicted to.  

Mr CA was away working on site so I moved my sewing machine to the dining room table (out of the bag where it'd been since the last quilt guild meeting!) and accomplished very little!  This is a bag.  I did all the cutting out at the guild meeting (6 hours worth of cutting out), then I fused the interfacing and fleece in place and... that's it so far.  Long way to go on this.

Yes.  That is knitting.  Yes, I know.  I hate knitting.  Mum had given me a stack of craft mags and this pattern was in one of them.  I had a couple of car journeys coming up so I took it with me to work on (I was the passenger, not driver!).  I got stuck when it told me to ssk as I don't know what that is.  I googled it on my phone and found nothing.  I must have another look from a larger device...  any guesses as to what this is to be?

Christmas Countdown - January Roundup

Another update!  I've also joined in with Christmas Through the Year over on Allie's blog.  I didn't get much at all done this month - just the one paltry present... must try harder next month.  But here he is (again), my frog prince as a present for a frog-loving friend:

I hope my friend wont make him lie on his side all the time like Blogger does!

Craft Book Challenge - January Roundup

This is a round up post of my Craft Book Challenge attempts for the month so no new stuff - sorry!  If you're not already joining in, come join us at Liesl's blog.

I managed to use 3 of my craft books this month:

Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan
I made this patchwork scarf:

Knitted Toy Tales by Laura Long
And knitted this frog prince that Blogger insists on showing sideways

Free and Easy Stitch Style by Poppy Treffry
And got to grips with free motion embroidery.  See my post here if you're interested in learning more about it.

Three books in one month, not bad!

The frog prince

Remember this little fella?  Nope, he's not a monkey ;0)

He's a frog prince!  He's from the book Knitted Toys by Laura Long (third entry for the craft book challenge this month!! and my first Christmas present this year!).  He was much easier to knit than that teddy I attempted - he was mainly in one piece, with just the arms and eyes separate. 

Sorry, it's sideways, Blogger and my computer conspired against me to make him sideways.  But look!  I took him outside - my first decent picture on this blog!


Linking up to the One Thing, One Week Challenge over at Amy's Creative Side. 

Yarn, yarn and more yarn - works in progress

A quick apology - Blogger is insisting I have my party buttons in the middle, not the end of the post, I've moved it but Blogger says no!  Keep reading to see the photo of the baby blanket and a link to the pattern and wool shop.

I have been knitting and crocheting away this week, so I've got no finished projects at all!  I wanted to show you something so you didn't think I'd just disappeared, so here's my works in progress.

First up, 2nd item from my Craft Book Challenge for January and first Christmas present of the year - a knitted toy, almost finished:

Can you tell what it is yet? (Said in an Australian accent (that was a Rolf Harris reference by the way)).

Secondly, I've been crocheting a baby blanket for a friend.  Another friend suggested it to me and I said in horror "but she's due on the 14th March, I can't crochet a blanket in 2 months!".  I got on the internet, got the yarn (the softest, most beautiful Sidir Snuggly Baby Bamboo in cream - it's divine) and got started.  I'm half way there after just 4 days!

This is also the reason the toy above isn't finished, my crewel embroidery has barely been touched and the dishwasher still needs emptying!  I can't stop!  I blame the gorgeous wonderful yarn.  It's a bit wonky at the bottom as I didn't quite get the hang of the pattern until about row 8, but I've got to do a couple of rounds when the length is finished so I'm hoping I can sort it out with that and a bit of blocking.  I have no idea how to block but I'll find out!

The free pattern is from the Lion Brand website - find it here

For UK knitters/crocheters, I bought the yarn at this website, it was the cheapest I found online, delivery was quick and there were no problems, I'd recommend them.

New Year's Eve - some presents, some projects and lots of germs!

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!  I'm back with another post as I actually did some crafting yesterday.

But first - I have to show you this photo of the two beautiful scarves my mum made me for Christmas:

The gorgeous blue one on the left is crocheted, but it's crocheted the opposite way to usual, starting with several hundred chain and dc'ing into it!  It's actually a beautiful variegated wool in gorgeous shades of blue (my favourite colour) but the photo doesn't do it justice.  The red on is knitted, a fan stitch which does go up and down - again, it's gorgeous in real life, and it's finished with a pom-pom fringe!!

So what did I get up to yesterday?  Well the husband had to go to work, so I went upstairs and finally made up the crochet/knitting bag that I bought the Amy Butler fabric for ages ago!  I made the small version for mum for Christmas (at her request, not because I'm mean!) and made the tall one for myself yesterday.  What do you think?

As ever, the cutting took ages but it sewed up really quite quickly.  I changed the pattern for the cuff as I didn't quite understand the instructions, this time there's much less bulk in that top seam so it sits neater.

I also finally finished the bag/bed for the wierd little teddy I made.  This project has been the bane of my life the last few weeks.  It should have been really quick but took forever!  Far too much sewing up required.  Here it is in all its "glory":

As a bag...

... and as a bed.

Hm, don't think I'll be knitting this one again!!

Whilst I was upstairs sewing yesterday, my husband came home for work with presents for me!  He'd had them delivered to work and they hadn't arrived in time so he'd bought me other presents (I'd told him not to!) so here were my original presents.  And what a treat they were... more books!  (All book images from Amazon)

Around the Corner Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman

I (heart) Patchwork by Rashida Coleman-Hale



Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan



Free & Easy Stitch Style by Poppy Treffry

This last one goes wonderfully with my new darning foot which was the other present!!

I was going to get started on this today but guess what?  The lurgy has got me.  I feel awful so I'm going to sit here in blogland until I feel better (or fall asleep as I barely slept last night).

I've already mentioned in previous posts that I am challenging myself to make things from my craft books, well it's been a bit unstructured so far.  My First Bambina is doing a Use Your Books Challenge for 2011, well I'm joining in but my rules are a bit different.  I already have more than enough books to last me forever, so I'm going to make something from a book each month.  After the second quarter, if I have 6 completed projects, I'll treat myself to some new fabric/materials to embark on more projects from the books.  If I've completed 6 projects after the first quarter, well then I get my treat early!  Sorry Bambina, I can't put your button in as I've never figured out how to do it!  Hope over to her blog (link above) and join in!

Happy New Year to you all!

A Monday update

Good afternoon everyone.

Well, the snow is melting, we have a lot of slush round our way and unfortunately still some ice but all the lovely snow is going.  The ice is bad news, my poor husband has fallen over twice already!

I spent most of the week (after work of course) knitting this little teddy.  The pattern came from Crafts Beautiful magazine but I don't think she quite turned out as expected... the face is a little odd!!

Apologies for the duplicate photo, Blogger is insisting I leave it there! 

I realised that I haven't spoken much about myself on this blog, and although I do want this to be a blog about my crafts, not my personal life, I thought I should explain how my crafting fits in with my life.  I work long hours a 45 minute commute away so my day begins at 6am and I generally get home from work at 6:30pm, if I can leave on time and don't have to do the shopping on the way home, which I usually do - 4 bunnies eat  a lot of fresh veg and I can't store it for long before it goes off.  Thursdays after work are reserved for visiting my goddaughter.  Add into the mix the general tidying, sorting of bills, feeding the rabbits, cooking dinner (though I don't do that as often as my husband), eating dinner and then bed around 10pm and it leaves me precious little time for crafting.

I've got my own dedicated craft room on the top floor of our 3 story house.  It started off as my card making room but is the only place that can also house the sewing machine.  During the week though, I prefer to sit with my husband in the living room and watch telly and chat with him so it's mainly hand stitching / knitting / crochet / embroidery / cross stitch during the week.  At the weekends is when I get the chance to go up to my little room and get crafting.  That's if we're not going out with my step-daughter or I'm not seeing my mum or shopping.

Saturday morning is usually the time that cards get made.  This one got made this Saturday.

I posted a picture of the cross stitch when I'd finished that.  I also made a start on the Christmas cards.

After making 3 of these, I decided I'd just make 3 for 3 special people and the rest will have to be different!  They took AGES to make!

As my step-daughter was around this weekend, I spent most of Saturday in the living room with my cutting mat and a load of fabric, cutting up some goodies which I then sewed up on the Sunday when my husband took his daughter and her friend sledging.

I cut the pieces for this patchwork cushion front from various Moda layer cakes I'd bought.  I don't know which ones as I hate packaging and it has to go in the bin straight away.

Although some of my points don't match up, I'm pretty happy with it.  Unfortunately, due to my massive addiction to patterned fabrics, I never buy solid colours and so don't have anything for the back as of yet.  It will be pink and envelope style I think.   I'm hoping to get it finished at the FNSI this week.

I also cut the parts for these little beanbags:

I handstitched the numbers on so they will fray and I pieced the pictures into the apertures on Sunday.  I think this is a messy version of a standard quilting technique, but I just made it up as I went along.  I loved piecing these just as I loved making the patchwork cushion.  I really do have to get started on quilt making!

I have in fact all but finished these 10 bean bags, they just need stuffing.  I will show you the finished articles later in the week - as a tutorial!  Oh yes, I remembered to take pictures as I went along.

It's the last Cathy's Christmas Countdown on Friday and with Friday also being the Friday Night Sew In (the first of 2 in December) I thought I'd post on Saturday with all my finished goodies.  I was cutting and preping last night whilst watching the X Factor results and I'll carry on cutting and preping this week so I've got loads to sew up on Friday.  I will try and post a tutorial for the bean bags on Thursday, but I need to get them sewn up first!

Cathy's Christmas Countdown - December

Today is the final round of the Christmas Countdown over at Cathy's blog so here is my roundup of my Christmas present makes for the month.  Unfortunately there's no new items there, there would have been but I was struck down with the most awful migraine on Monday night that I didn't get rid of until this morning.

So without further ado, here is my list:

1. accessories pouch to go with the sewing machine cover from October

2. Pin cushion to match

3. Matching needle book

4. set of notecards

5. Set of drawing pins

6. Fabric covered box

7. Fabric covered noticeboard

8. Notebook cover with embroidery

9. Basketweave scarf

10. Cross stitch draw-string bag

11. and last, but not least, the cushion made with my Angel Friends stitchery

I haven't done quite as well as last month, and I still have loads of presents to go, but at least I've made a start.  Thanks Cathy for spurring me on!  I think I'm going to start my preparation for Christmas 2011 in January, I'm serious!

We've got lots of lovely snow here and the road to work (I commute about 45 minutes each way from Nottingham to Loughborough for work) is a bit dangerous, but not that bad... yet.  I'm really hoping to get snowed in tomorrow, that would be a great excuse to sit around and make presents!

Snow glorious snow, but not in this post

In a previous post I showed you how to mess up a simple coaster, well this week I've gone one step further and messed up a notebook cover.  So, here's how to turn this:

Into this:

Looking a little "loose" and "crinkley"... It's a present for my dad (and I forgot to turn it the right way up!) who has just been made Chairman of the local branch of CAMRA after years of organising the Beer Festival.  Coupled with his footie team's colours, it is him all over!  Except he's not loose or crinkly...

I covered a little box with the fabric and put a little cushion inside to hide the mess in the bottom, this is to hold the drawing pins I covered for him.

It didn't turn out so well as the fabric glue has made it kind of dirty.

I finally got round to doing something with the Forever Friends bear I stitched, I made it into a drawstring bag.  It didn't go as well as last time as it has a bit of an unintended pleat in the back.  I didn't photograph it for you as I was already feeling pretty rubbish about my lack of sewing skills by this point!

I spent a couple of hours stitching up this Spitfire design for my father-in-law's birthday card.  The design came from one of the 15 old cross stitch magazines I picked up for £3 in a charity shop.  He was in the RAF as was his father who was a Paratrouper during WWII so I thought this would be appropriate.

I also finally did something with the Angel Friends stitchery that I completed a month or so ago.  I made it into a cushion.  This cushion has a zip in the top!  My first ever zip!  It was really easy...  unless I've done it wrong, I don't know what my major fear of zips was.  There is however a mistake in this cushion - the zip is at the top!!

Finally this weekend I got started on some knitting:

I've still got some more pieces to go.  Can you tell what it is?  This was my first attempt at moss stitch and that also was pretty easy, though I did mess up one bit of the pink part...  I got confused with the stitches and decreasing.

I've been feeling a bit down about my lack of sewing ability this weekend.  The notebook was a disaster and I'm sure it should have been a lot easier, then everything else seemed to go wrong too.  Maybe I should give up and go back to making cards.

Finally finished the scarf (free pattern) - and fab giveaway win!

So, the lovely Val Laird (visit her here) finally sorted my whole photo/post thing out by telling me how to email my posts to myself, cutting out the photo problem.  I still do have a little problem as there’s a limit on the size of photos I can send (anyone know a non-technical way to make them smaller?) but it’s a lot quicker anyway!

So, first up, I need to say a massive thanks to Cathy for the fab bag I won in her giveaway. 

I’ve been joining in with Cathy’s Christmas Countdown and I was lucky enough to win this gorgeous bag last month. 

 

Look at that detail and the lovely little label!  I love it Cathy and it’s under my desk as we speak.  I'm just sorry that my photos don't do it justice, I fell in love with it as soon as I opened the parcel.  Come on ladies, join Cathy for the final month’s Countdown by posting about your November Christmas present makes, it’s that simple and you could win a prize.  All you have to do is email Cathy or comment on her blog directing her to your post.

I’ve finally finished that basket weave scarf!  Ta da…

And here’s a close up (albeit an orange close up – the scarf is russet!):

Do you want to know how to do the basket weave pattern?

It’s pretty simple, I did it in multiples of 4 stitches and 5 rows, though you could really make that any number (larger) that you wanted for bigger squares.  I had to count my stitches – it had to be a multiple of 8 + 4 so 12, 20, 28, 36, 44 all work and I chose 44 stitches. 

Rows 1-5 : knit 4, purl 4 to end of row

Rows 6 – 10: purl 4, knit 4 to end of row

Then just repeat this pattern to infinity!

I also made my dad a fabric covered notice board from a piece of black and white stripy fabric, a cork board and a couple of layers of wadding, plus hundreds of staples and a bit of PVA glue.  He’s a big Notts County fan.  Overseas readers never heard of Notts County?  Oh, hang on, I bet you British readers have never heard of them either!  They’re a football team.  Certainly not Premiership material, I don’t know what division they are in now as they keep changing the system but it used to be division 4, basically a bit up from the Sunday pub team matches!!  Anyway, they play in black and white stripes, hence the black and white theme of his presents.

That’s it for now but I should be back on Monday with lots and lots of Christmas gift finishes – if not then it’s looking more and more unlikely that my family will get any Christmas presents!!

P.S.  Look what I saw in the carpark of my local Asda:

The holidays are coming!